The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-03-05
Confession Of Mrs. Druse.

DCAOAO oNhNAAA6 ~ ~AN- NA-+N
penalty, Mrs. Druse unfolded the
following horrible account to her
Pastor, of the killing of her hus.
band.
"What am about to say to you
has never been made public be-
fore and l assure you on the hon.
or of q woman standing on the
brink of the grave, that l am
speaking the truth. The world
has turned against me, but | know
l have one friend left, and that is
you. Now, you must promise me
that you will not say a word Of
this till l am gone. Then you can
publish ii and let this cruel world
know the truth of the matter. |
don't want to take any more Of
your time than l can help. |
must take you back before the
murder and tell of a conversation
had with Charles Gates in refer.
ence to the killing of Druse. 1t
was about 7 p. m. on Wednesday
night. Druse was away, as he
usually was big part of the time.
Gates came in and asked me if |
was alone, George and Frank
were out riding somewhere and
Mary was up stairs. Gates then
asked me if | did not want to get
rid of Druse. | told hlm [ was
nearly dead now and did not care
what happened. He asked me II
/ had the pistol he gave me yet.
1t was in the pantry, and l told
him so. | went and got it and
showed it to him. He saw 1t was
not loaded in all the barrels,
(meaning the cylinder chambers)'
and he put in some moro cartridges
and gave it back to me. He want
ed to know if | could fire 1t, and ]
went to the door and snapped it,
1t did not go off, for the cartridge
was no good. He put in another
and said, "Well, you know how to
do it and that is enough" lie
then said, "Now, if anything hap
pens you can depend on me help
ing you,n With that he went
away. He came again on Decem
ber Z, the night before the murder
and told me to hurry up and tC
| take the first chance | got. HI
said | should not burn tho heac
because il would leave traces
He would take care of that. He
said he would make the buckwheat
at the house. The next morning
saw him coming up the road just al
Druse sat down to breakfast. Thil
was Just after he had raised thu
ak to strike me. l got the pistol ant
came out. He was sitting dow
at tho table. He swore awfu
abont the tea and sugar, and
raised the pistol and shot. | hi
him in the neck and only stunned
him. Gates then shot through the
window, and he fell to the floor
He then shot again. | only shoI
once. Gates shot three or foul
times. | took the AK and cut his
head off and chopped him up. The
head was wrapped in paper and
carried out to the wO0dshed. II
was put in lot of buckwheat
The body was ..all burned up and
none was given to the pigs. That
is not true about feeding it to the
hogs. 1t was boiled, then burned.
Gates came that night and told
him what had happened, he grasp.
ed my hand and said l acted nobly.
He said he would como for the
buckwheat tomorrow morning,
which he did. He took Druse's
head with him. It was buried
one mile from Richfleld Springs
where could find 1t If | chose. 1t
could never be found, for the se'
cret lies with Gates and me alone.
Chas. Pett overheard US talking
about it once, and he is dead now
and can't talk. Gates is the only
one who knew anything about 1t.
There was another man with Gates
when he got the buckwheat, and il
was at ElwOod. His name was
Bill. 1t took eight hours to burn
=
the body, and it made an awful
smell. | nearly tainted several
times. George and Frank Gates
were there some of the time ; they
did not see much though. | sent
them down to the wood lot and
had them carrying shingles.
killed Druse because l could moi
stand him any longer. He was
brute, and | had not slept will
him in twelve years. That is al
l can tell. Gates put up Frank tC
tell what he did tell to shove all OF
to me, but he will get his reward
some time. Now you must no
tell anyone this till l am gone, ant
not let it get in any paper till L
o'clock tomorrow. I don't carr
how many know 1t then. | trus